EPA opens up for transparency and citizen participation

In Memo to EPA Employees the EPA Administrator commits to new openness and accountability to the American public.

Hey, Jeffrey Levy from the EPA does a better example of explaining this than I do here.

Anyway, here's what impressed me:

General Principles

In all its programs, EPA will provide for the fullest possible public participation in decision-making. This requires not only that EPA remain open and accessible to those representing all points of view, but also that EPA offices responsible for decisions take affirmative steps to solicit the views of those who will be affected by these decisions. This includes communities of color, Native Americans, people disproportionately impacted by pollution, small businesses, cities and towns working to meet their environmental responsibilities, and others who have been historically underrepresented in EPA decision-making. EPA will not accord privileged status to any special interest, nor will it accept any recommendation or proposal without careful, critical, and independent examination.

Appointment Calendars

To keep the public fully informed of my contacts with interested persons, I have directed that a working copy of my appointment calendar, showing meetings with members of the public, be provided to the EPA Office of Public Affairs, where it will be available to the public each day on the EPA Web site. I also direct other senior Agency officials, including the Deputy Administrator, the Assistant Administrators, and the Regional Administrators, to make their working appointment calendars available to the public in a similar fashion.